Earlier this week my son asked me to read him a book that he had borrowed from the library. The story he asked me to read was the story of the Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon and a Torah Scroll that had its history in Bergen Belsen that he took along with him on his mission to Space. I was very impressed with the story and the day after I read the story to my child, I decided to share the story with the group of Bar Mitzvah boys that I learn with. I have since looked and read more about the story and would like to share this story with you too.
The story is a beautiful and powerful story of a twelve-year-old child who was befriended by a Dutch Rabbi in the Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp. The Dutch Rabbi had smuggled a tiny Torah Scroll into the concentration camp and used to steal a few moments of time to read from it whenever he could. When the Dutch Rabbi realized that there was a twelve-year-old boy by the name of Yehoyachin Yosef with them in their bunk, he asked the child if he would like to have a Bar Mitzvah in the camps. The boy who was initially in disbelief at the mere concept of a Bar Mitzvah in such a location, agreed to have a Bar Mitzvah and prepare for it. Each day they would spend a few minutes discreetly practicing and learning about Judaism and his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.
The day arrived and Yehoyachin actually read from the Torah in Bergen Belsen and had a super quick hidden and dangerous Bar Mitzvah with all of the Jews in his bunk, and it would be an event that he would never forget. His fellow bunkmates shared their gifts with him that included a piece of bread, a square of chocolate and other basic commodities that people were desperate for in the camps. At the end of their five minute celebration the Dutch Rabbi then turned to Yehoyachin and told him that he probably won’t survive the war and therefore he wants to give this Torah scroll to Yehoyachin who will most likely survive. He then requested of him that after the war and liberation he should share the story of the Torah with the world, as its story represents the determination and spirit of the Jewish people that refuses to be crushed.
The Dutch Rabbi didn’t survive the war, but Yehoyachin did survive and eventually he moved to Israel where he grew up and became a scientist. At one point when he was preparing for his mission to space, Ilan Ramon who himself was a grandchild of Auschwitz survivors met up with Yehoyachin, and when he noticed the Torah on the mantel and heard its story, he asked that he be allowed to take it to outer space and have a chance to show the world the story and message of this Torah Scroll.
Ilan Ramon went on the NASA mission with six other crew members in late January 2003 and took along multiple items of sentimental and spiritual value. Ilan said about the mission “I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis” and he sought to represent the Jews and Jewish tradition in as many ways as he could. On Jan 21st 2003 Ilan showed the world via a TV hookup the Bergen Belsen Torah and told the story of its survival and the survival of the Jewish people. Mr. Yehoyachin Yosef later said that he never imagined that the story of this Torah would have ever been able to be shared in such a global manner like Ilan accomplished.
This week as I read this powerful story to my child, I was moved and inspired. I was moved by Ilan Ramon’s actions and what he represented, I was moved by the story of the Torah Scroll and the Bar Mitzvah in Bergen Belsen, and I was moved by the story in its entirety, as it represents the story of Jewish people who through fire and water have clung to their traditions and clung to the Torah and its values.
In this week’s Torah Portion we read about the hardship and suffering of the Jewish people in Egypt who for years and years were being beaten, suppressed, murdered, and enslaved. Yet in the same portion, we also begin reading about the first glimmers of hope as the plagues begin and the slavery eases off. The Jews were so caught up in their suffering that in the beginning they almost could not believe that they were actually going to be saved. In fact Moses himself had a tough time getting the Jews to believe his message. Yet ultimately the people came around, and were not just saved, but used this experience to grow as a people that would receive their own Torah Scroll just several weeks later, that would become the binding ingredient of the Jews throughout our history.
Friends, as we read the story of the Jewish people in Egypt and reflect on the story of the Dutch Rabbi and Yehoyachin and the Torah Scroll in Bergen Belsen, let us think how we too can spend some more time connecting with our Torah. How can we find more opportunities to learn Torah, to engage in study and be part of thousands of years of Jewish History and tradition.
There are many ways we can add some Torah study to our lives, on the web there are many great resources including of course www.chabadsudbury.com and many more, or on Amazon and in stores there are hundreds of amazing books in Kindle Version and in real Print (yes, they still make them) and if anyone would like a suggested reading list, I will be happy to provide. And of course at Chabad of Sudbury we have many healthy learning opportunities such as our upcoming Living with Integrity Course, the Davening Like a Mentch Series, the Rosh Chodesh Society, Parsha Classes, and lots more.
Let’s think of the Torah scroll that Ilan Ramon took to space and let us think how we too can be part of this story of the Jewish people and its Torah Study.
I look forward to hearing from you and what you would like to learn next!
Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel
Below I have embedded the video of the story.
Janice wrote...
thank you for sharing
Janice